Modern women happier to be female than seventy years ago, according to Radio 4 poll

Women in the modern age are far happier with being female than they were seventy years ago, but worry about how their families will make ends meet, according to a new BBC poll.

The Survation poll of 1,000 women, carried out to mark the 70th anniversary of Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, also showed that the proportion of wives who believe that marriage is an equal sacrifice for both sexes has nearly doubled since the 1950s.

The survey, which examined the lives of 21st century women, showed that 86 per cent of women said they would rather be a woman than a man, up from 56 per cent when the question was asked in 1947.

Modern women were also more likely to believe they had chosen the right partner, with 87 per cent saying they would marry the same person if they relived their lives, compared to 77 per cent who were asked the same question in 1949.

Younger generations also agreed that they were less likely to face discrimination in the workplace as a result of their sex.

Only 18 per cent of those aged between 18 and 34 said they were held back at work as a result of being a woman, compared to 27 per cent of women over the age of 65.

Almost one fifth (19%) of all the women surveyed stated money related issues as the most urgent problem facing them and their family at presentCredit:
YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP

However, participants made clear that financial fears were the most urgent problem facing their families, with 28 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds rating money-related issues as their biggest worry.

Young professionals were also the most likely to have fears about life in general, with 68 per cent saying they worried “a lot” about their health and the wellbeing of those close to them, and 53 per cent sharing similar fears about saving for retirement.

Just over half of all those questioned said they felt that two children represented the perfect family size, similar to the 45 per cent of women who gave the same answer to a 1938 Gallup survey.

Alice Feinstein, editor of Woman’s Hour, said: “It's fascinating to see the results of this candid poll and hear women's views on family, work and relationships, and it's intriguing to work out what's changed and what's remained the same since Woman's Hour started 70 years ago.”